The Mitternacht Forest: Page 2
The girl stares at the man, almost in surprise, and watched as his eyes swirled. But the girl was very cautious. She lifted her legs closer to her and positioned her head almost laying on her knees. Could she trust him? She had only been with him for a few minutes, maybe an hour? She couldn't tell. But the horror she had been through, she didn't know who to trust anymore. One of the little voices popped in her head; it sounded like a noble woman with a deep voice.
He did save thee from them.
And it was very correct. The man had saved her from them. Another voice faded in; but it was more like a crackling fire and it was very harsh and it was a male.
Indeed, mistress, but how can thee trust et? Thee doesn't even know who this is!
The female voice seemed to glare at the other.
Yes, Noda, but if it had not been for him, the child would have parished.
Hmph....well, the child could ask him for his name first.
The girl then, picking her head up, looked directly into the man's childish eyes and said quietly, "I shaln't answer to give my name until thee give his."
he laughed, the sound resounding against the walls and bouncing back to create an effect similar to the laughing in the forest earlier.
he rolled over onto his back and threw his arms out straight so that his fingers were a few inches away from her toes, "iii have no naaaaaame~~~!"
he closed his eyes and smiled lightly, "thooooouuuugh creatures call me ------" his voice cutting out again even though he obviously was still talking.
The girl seemed to look at the man, with a blank expression like she was looking right through him. The two voices continued to argu throughout her mind.
Yes! No! Tell him thee's name! No, don't!
Seeming to snap out of her confusion, the girl looked fully at the man, nervous, and said, "My name is Kokuei. Since thee does not own a name of his own, would thee like me to think of one?"
a crazed smile broke across his face, "but i am reffered to as ------ . . . . ~!"
he leaned forward, his face dangerously close to the girl's, "what would be reality if --- who has no name suddenly had a naaaaaaaame?" his eyes stopped moving for a moment, then swirling the opposite yet again. although this time his voice carried an underlying malice although his facial features carried none.
Kokuei sat in front of the man, motionless, waiting to see what he would do...
he stared at the girl for a few minutes, his body giving no evidence of any breathing taking place. then suddenly he took a big breath in and laughed.
his eyes swirled faster than ever, "sooo what is the pretty child doing in such a daaaaark foressst???"
Kokuei looks carefully at the man. Their 'conversation' was getting a little to far. She would have to leave soon.
As a matter of fact, she could start to hear faint whispers far back into the forest, still looking for her. Trying to bring her back to that.....living nightmare. She needed to leave. Now. Her heartbeat started to increase and her pupils started to slowly shrink. Her voice started to separate from her.
"I...I-I'm s-orry ssir...but I n-need to leave n....now. The....their coming ba-ck...m...ust leave now!" she scrambled to say. Her adreniline started to kick in now as she quickly stood up and looked around trying to find an exit.
The crazed smile returned, and as he opened his mouth the echoing laughter that Kokuei had heard in the forest returned as well.
from amidst the laughter a dominating voice sang clearly as the colors of the male's pupils danced wildly, "and just how do you plan on doing thaaaaaaat, love?"
another, more shrill voice called out as the dominating one returned to laughter, "nobody leaves without permission from the ------~~~!!"
the combined and separated voice broke into chattering and then all of a sudden said in unison, "yes, nobody leaves the katawaltzzzz!!
!"
Kokuei backed against the nearest wall, terrified of the strange man in front of her. She could feel the waves of beats pounding through her body in a strange rhythm, as although she could dance to it.
However, it was all too late for her to leave because the strange voices had then found her and were positioned outside the tree. And then, silently, they let out an earpiercing sonicwave that only Kokuei could hear.
Suddenly realizing that they were there, Kokuei seemed to breakdown from all of her fear and onto the floor, clutching her head. Even though she had lost conciousness, her sub-conciousness was wide awake. Therefore she didn't even know what she was doing.
As the waves grew louder, Kokuei let out a scream and held her head harder.
"Make it stop!! Please, make it stop!!" she screamed to no one. But the sound only continued to grow and her screams began to weaken, as though her very soul was giving out. But she still continued, as if doing so in order for someone else to help, for she knew somehow that the man might not...
The male watched, bemused as the girl suffered. for a moment his eyes stopped changing as he seemed to debate wether or not to help her. the laughter stopped, and all <seemed> silent.
suddenly, without warning, the male let out a keening sound and the lights flared bright, temporarily blinding the girl as small animals could be heard scrurrying to his summon.
uncountable creatures appeared appearently out of nowhere and siezed the girl before she had time to protest. the male walked calmly over to her, looking down at her and blocking some of the intense light, no emotion played across his face and his eyes remained still as a tired and low voice spoke from his lips, "Take her away. She requires rest. . . and help."
the creatures began to take the girl away, and as they began passing through a passageway out into the halls, the sing-song voice called after them, "and don't let the child escaaaaape!"
the creatures tightened their grasp on the girl so that she could not move, let alone escape.
they carried her down passageways that all looked the same, all too brightly engulfed in white light to make out any difference. and then she was in a room. it was equally as white as the rest of the place, but it seemed to be less bright, and seemed to be enchanted that no shadows were cast -- giving the room a feel of complete empyness. and indeed it was empty, save for a cot placed directly in the center, where the girl was placed, and tied down firmly.
this room seemed to be deeper into whereever she was, as whatever noises she was hearing became muffled to near silence.
The girl lay there is silence besides her heavy breathing. The pupil inside her white eye was a tiny dot and streams of sweat pooled down her face.
The room was very hot for some reason. She couldn't concentrate on anything besides the fact that the room was so hot. Her eyes were very blurry and the only thing she could make out was the blurry-brown ceiling of wherever she was.
Soft foots prints tapped her her left and she titled her head even though she couldn't see.
a friendly face appeared a little too close for comfort before the female. the features of a younger-middle-aged male creature became clear to her, from his oddly shining spectacles, black shining eyes, his dark eyebrows, hansome face, to the grey streaks in his jet-black hair. his skin was a uniform grey-ish-brown, with lighter blue-brown markings every now and then. he was clothed completely. everything colored save his head, which had no jewelery or other such things, safe for his small round glasses.
he brushed a rebel peice of his long hair back into it's tight ponytail, using his rather long claw-like nailes to rake it into the grain, smiling warmly to show small, but prominant fangs. quietly, he said in a voice deep and resonating, "i was told you require help?"
he stepped back to allow a more full veiw. his body seemed humanoid enough, but he had three sets of dragonfly-like wings adorning his back, the middle ones largest. still smiling, he bowed low, "i am at your service, milady. GramDi'ang is my title; however, you may call me either Gram or Di'ang, if it is to your prefference."
he took a small step forward, and looked the female up and donw, as if inspecting for something, "is there anything you require at this very momment, mydear?"
Kokuei looked up at Gram, careful to think before she said anything. "Well, Gram...sir, does thee have any water?" cautiously, Kokuei slowly started to sit up, finally realizing that her current clothes were barely serving their job of not almost, entirely exposing her. She quickly wrapped her arms around her chest and bringing her knees up to her chin; blushing as she said, "And, maybe something I may change into."
flinching slightly, he bowed, if only as an excuse to look away. standing again, he chuckled warmly, "of course, milady, right away. if you will only wait here for a moment? feel free to explore this room, however, ------ has bade us to keep you here, and he has my higher authority." he smiled appologetically before nodding his head and leaving.
After making sure Gram had completely left, Kokuei slowly stood and grabbed a blanket that was laying on the cot and rapped it around herself. The room was rather cool, and slightly damp when Kokuei started to walk around the room. Many small trinkets lined the walls (Kokuei having no knowledge of what any of them were) but lightly ran her fingers over them, her touch barely making contact at all. She then began to feel uncomfortable in the eerie silenc of the room and how no shadows could be seen from any angle. After a few moments, Kokuei turned her head to the direction which Gram had left and spoke, "Is thee still there?"
the girl was met with silence. nobody was there.
after a few minutes, however, Gram returned, carrying with him a tray, having both plenty of water, and what seemed to be a delicious meal. draped over his arm were clothes. he set the tray on the cot and gently folded the clothes and set them next to it.
turning to Kokuei, he smiled gently, "there you go, milady. i thought you may also want some food? although it you do not wish to eat, by no means do you have to. . ." he said, indicating the tray. the meal was warm, a scent wafting off of it that appealed to every pallet. it looked good too, and there was a spoon lain next to it, but no knife or fork.
"i also braught you some of our finest tonics, they're soft, keep the heat in, the cold out, or the heat out and the cold in, and i think you'll find that they are very dourable, as well. i myself wear nothing but the material used in them, the ------'s special cloth." this was said with a wistful smile, a twist of the lips that seemed to make refference to some fond memory.
he looked at Kokuei, gentle amusement playing across his features, "is there anything else you would like presently, miss? or perhaps you would just like some company?"
Without thinking, Kokuei rushed over to the food on the plate, taking the mouth-watering smell. This had been the most amount of food she'd ever seen. In a matter of seconds, the meal had completely disappeared as Kokuei scooped the last bit into her mouth. Finishing with licking the remains of the food from her fingers, Kokuei turned back to Gram, realizing what else he had said to her. "Th-thee doesn't think my outer apperence is...strange?" she questioned.
Gram raised an eyebrow, "should i?" he chuckled, "my dear, i have seen creatures far more bizaar than ye may be able to imagine."
"But," Kokuei stammered, "My right eye is black while the right side of my hair is white, and my left eye is white but my the left side of my hair is black!"
he smiled warmly, continueing to chuckle deep in his chest, "yes, and i have three wings, and a few other appendages that ------ has helped me hide. i have markings along my back that shouldnt' be natural, as well as all along my arms, legs and upper torso. the fact that you have a checkered appearence is mildly amusing at best." he paused for a moment, simply smiling at Kokuei, appritiating her youth, "i'm sure some may even find your subtle oddity attractive."
A light blush appeared on Kokuei's face, and she turned her head trying to hide it, but was horribly failing. Clearing her throat, she tried to change the subject, "So, um...how did someone like thee end up in a place like this?"
Gram laughed at the girls missunderstanding, but not making an attempt to correct what he thought she assumed, too amused. he smiled wistfully, as he thought about his own past, "aaah that takes me back. . . " he sighed in what could have been either tired or happy, it was hard to tell as his expression softened, "------ took me away from my people about twenty years ago. . ." he paused smiling, "don't think ill of him, however, he saved me from a fate i would rather not endure. you see, i am, or was rather, a king. not a king that you are used to, though. . . my title was that of a king, but it was more of i was a tool. a member of the queen's harem. something of that sort." he paused again, looking slightly downcast, "i was miserable. i, then as now, wasn't very atracted to the females of my species, and being forced to be with the queen. . . with the pressure of if i wasn't, my kingdom would fall appart. . . it was horrible."
for a moment, he stood in silence, looking at the empty plate the food had once been on. he continued slowly, "but then he came. the queen was murdered, she had already produced a generation of us, which luckily had a princess. . . i didn't stick around to see if the seven princes were ever found though. and i dont' really care any more. ------ took me with him the night after the queen's murder, and i was never happier than at that moment."
he smiled wistfully again, his whole posture shifting to a more positive body language, "he took me here, and i've been living here ever since. of course i dont' get to see him very often. . .and when i do, it's usually just to receive an order. . . but he chose me. it's not often the ------ hand-picks his servents. . . i'm honored."
he grinned, the expressionmaking him seem decades younger, "and he chose you to! you, Miss, should be happy. although i don't know what he plans for you, i'm afraid. ------ can be very unpredictable at times. i'm afraid he's more than a bit unstable. . ." his eyes twinkled as though he found admiration in this, "but he is a good, and wise ------. i'm sure you'll see that eventually."
his grin faded back to a soft smile, he gave a quiet laugh and looked at Kokuei again, "i'm sorry, i must be boring you with my rambling. enough about me, what brought you to ------'s sanctuary? surely something's been troubling you. . .?? i've found over the years, that most people who find themselves here have been troubled in some way. . . "
[((a lot of that is 'top secret' from my Kindom story. i shouldn't have to put this here, but as a warning, if any of my characters or concept gets leaked about, i'll remove it faster than ye can say 'cheesedoodle on a breadstick'.))]
Through the entire story Kokuei was recieving, her eyes were wide with interest and wonder, fixed on Gram and what he was telling her. She nodded ever now and then to silently show she was still listening. After he finished and started telling her that she was also "chosen", she seemed to be confused. Once he had asked her what was troubling her, she looked down, her eyes furrowing into concentration, as if searching her memories as though even she didn't know. The memories were soon found, and her eyes widened in horror and fear, and she quickly looked away, her voice shaking as she said, "N-Nothing. I w-was simply f...found in the forest. Nothing more."
"my dear, are you to imply that your only trouble was that you were lost in the woods?" GramDi'ang looked surprised, which slowly turned to a look of dissappointment, "that's very odd. ------ normally doesn't even take in anyone with as mondane troubles as that, let alone fetch them himself. . . "
he looked at her questioningly, not sure what to think, "maybe he's finally loosing his mind?" he narrowed his eyes slightly, although not in any way an offensive gesture, "are you completely sure that nothing else has been troubling you, milady??"
Kokuei nodded, a little too quickly after Gram asked her. "M-Maybe he has something else in mind for me or...something," she improvised.
he decided to drop the subject for now, he smiled appologetically, "no. . . i'm sorry i haven't been given any orders accept to watch over you and provide you with any service i am able to give. is there anything you wish?"
A strange sensation washed over Kokuei that she had never felt before in her entire lifetime. Someone had wanted to help her, serve her, care for her, when she had done nothing for them. As this realization started to seep in, her body became numb and, for some reason, she started to cry. Not a hard sob, but a soft one, filled with innocence but also with deep sorrow. Between her cries, she managed to make out, "Company w-would be n-nice..."
his eyebrows creasing in concern, Gram put a comforting hand on Kokuei's shoulder, "awe. . . come now, love, why are you crying. . .??"
Sniffling a little, Kokuei stared at her trembling knees, answering with, "A...all my l-life I've been told th-at...I," but quickly buring her face in her knees, changing back to her sobbing which were slightly louder, and her tears coming out faster.
feeling a bit awkward with himself, Gram attempted to hug Kokuei, resting his chin on her head and patting her back, "been told what, dear?" he didn't quite know what to do with himself, but one wouldn't guess that by the way he attempted to comfort the crying Kokuei.
Trying to calm herself down, Kokuei sniffed a few more times until her sobs turned to silent cries. "Well..." she began, her voice slightly muffled from her face still implanted in her knees, "to start, I wasn't exactly born, myself. I was created by a couple of mad witches and shamans by taking the souls of others that have passed and solidfy them into a living being. Unfortunately, most of the souls they were able to get were brutally murdered victims, insane serial killers, and a few twisted and demented poltergeists, while the rest was a few innocent souls. They ended up with me. And because of all the souls trapped within me, they can communicate amongst themselves as well as me.
Years and years followed with them torturing me, beating me, telling me that I was worthless and that no one alive would want to care for a useless 'waste-of-space' until I would suddenly black-out. I never exactly knew why they did this to me, but I did hear them whisper something about 'The Shadow' and 'bringing it out'. More years went by, still with beatings and secretive whispers, until just a few days ago, I was able to escape.
I know there's large chunks of my life that I left out...but I just can't seem to remember them," she finished, her sobs now completely gone.
laughing ruefully, Gram continued his comforting motions, "so that's what's been troubling you? it's funny, you're story is like a mix of me and ------. . .!"
"where i come from, everyone is produced by magic. there is no 'birth'. . . and as i'm sure you've noticed, ------, has a bit of the voice thing going on too. . ."
he grew quiet, after a moment he spoke again, "i'm sorry. i don't mean to be insensitive. . . you are definately not worthless. . . and maybe ------ can help you with those voices? although it doesn't seem he has a problem with his. . . "
he trailed off again. then with a sigh, "oh, i'm sorry. i don't know. . . i suppose it would be in your best intrest to just cry it all out, at the moment. . .?" he laughed sheepishly and held her close, still patting her back soothingly.
Thinking for a moment, Kokuei looked back up at Gram and asked, "Do...do you know when... ------ is coming back?" A sparked showed in her eyes, almost begging for him to answer.
"technically, i doubt he's left at all. ------'s is a large place and he's probably got something to distract him, if not himself. . . "
he smiled sadly, "i'm afraid i have no idea when ------ will be back, i have no control over him."
his smile warmed, "but if it is your wish, milady, i can try to contact him. . .? i have no idea if he'll come or not though. . ."
Kokuei nodded softly. "Yes...I would like to speak to him soon," she replied.
Gram took a step back, bowed and left the room.
after what seemed to be an hour or two, the door opened, but Gram wasn't the one to enter. the androgynous form of his master entered instead.
as the creature moved into the room, eyeing Kokuei up, Gram came in afterwards, looking surprised, if not a little dazed and confused.
suddenly the master was directly before her, prodding at her stomach as if looking for a hole, "why did you wish to seee me, lovely child. . .??" he sang.
Kokuei was somewhat confused as to why he was staring at her stomach, but decided to just get to the point. "Well, sir," she began, going over what she was about to say, "I...I was wondering why thee would want to take care of me...why take me in if thee knows nothing of me?"
a vicious grin cracked across his face, his eyes swirling the opposite way, some of the ooze dripped from his hair, that now seemed to be messier than it had before, and landed with a sizzle on the floor. behind him, Gram seemed to become rather dishelved, rubbing subconciously at his arm.
a sickly sweet voice, "why, child, do you doubt me?"
Kokuei quickly shoot her head. "No! No, I didn't mean it that way, sir. I...I was just wondering," she replied, looking up at him.
sniffing indignantly, he straightened his back, looking, or trying to, look very regal, "my reasons are none of your consern, child." his voice echoed, low and throaty.
Gram flinched.
Kokuei decided not to argu. "Um, alright then. Is there...anything you'd like for me to do? I can't sit around all the time and do nothing..."
"you're healing." he paused, the colors of his eyes momentarily halting, then suddenly they were moving again, a curious expression on his face, "unless you are healed already?" he looked gack to Gram questioningly, the man gave a violent twitch at this attention, but quickly snapped out of it, shrugging.
Kokuei wondered the same thing, and slowly stood up, looking around herself to check if all of her wounds were healed. "Well, I seem to be fine, and I feel no pain. So I think it's safe to know that I am healed," she answered, looking back at the two. Kokuei then gave a slight flinch as one of the earlier voices yelled at her.
'Fool!' it screamed, 'How can you just go on saying you're healed?! Are you saying that you trust these two enough to ask for work?!
Kokuei ignored the voice and smiled at the two men in front of her.
the nature of the smile changed, it became more understanding, imploring, ". . .but child, are you healed, mentaly?"
this time, Gram softened, the softer tone of his masters voice reflected in his posture, immidiately loosening up and a genuinely satisfied smile just barely tugging at his lips. the current voice of his master worked wonders.
Kokuei's eyes widened slightly at the tone of the man's voice. It sounded Angelic and peaceful to her, but she focused on what he asked her. She didn't want to tell him of the spirits trapped inside of her, which is what she thought he was asking her about, so she lied, "No. I think I'm healed enough to work."
"well, you'll find no work here." his voice was hardening, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him, the master turned his head, Gram was grimmacing in pain as the ooze began covering his hand, upon seeing his master's eyes upon him, he forced a smile, "s-sire. . ."
he brushed the hand away, turning away from Gram and back to Kokuei, "if you truely," he stressed this word, "believe yourself to be healed. . . than i suppose you may leave."
Kokuei's eyes widened in horror, horrible memories flashing in front of her eyes. "No!" she yelled, "No, don't make me go back there! I wish to stay with you and Gram! Please!!" She tugged on his sleeve like a small child, her eyes begging him to let her stay.
Gram's eyes went wide, his brow creasing in concern.
slime began to ooze onto her from the contact with his sleeve, it quickly began burning worse than any pain than she could immagine at the moment, but then began to tingle, and became soothing as he closed his eyes, wrenching his arm from her grasp, "stay, then. but i will have no more of this . . .lying." he said the word with a snarl of discust.
he opened his eyes again and the liquid returned to the burning sensation, although not as strong, quickly thinning out and dripping to the floor, where it sizzled into nothingness.
the master turned towards Gram, Grams eyes were filled with a delicate mixture of happiness and sadness, eagerness and fear.
"shall i leave?"
Gram closed his eyes and bowed his head, quietly he spoke, his tone oddly deep and raspy, "only if you, or milady wish it, sire. the decision is not mine."
for a moment, the master narrowed his eyes the colors stopped and glowing, as if searching GramDi'ang's mind itself.
the master whirled around, spattering liquid all over Gram, immidiately a sated expression fell across his face, he looked drowzy.
"am i still required?" his eyes began to move again, his voice harsh now, "or is our sweet little child going to be difficult." it was hard to say if he was actually asking a question or not.
Kokuei winced violently at the pain and quickly drew back her hand. A slight fear was in her eyes now, as she took an involuntary step away from Gram's master. After his somewhat "question", Kokuei quickly shoot her head, in hopes of not angering him. "B-But I must ask, s-sir," she spoke, her voice shaking slightly, "what should I do if there is no work for me?" Kokuei glanced at Gram, the fear still in her eyes, and then looked back at ------.
a kind smile this time, and the same voice that had affected positively before, "you should heal."
in the background, Gram nodded lazily.
Kokuei nodded slowly, suddenly feeling light headed and tired, her eyelids drooping slightly.
at this, the master's eyes narrowed, his barely visable face twisting into what would be a grimmace. even Gram seemed mildly surprised, given his state of dazed positivity.
no explination was given for their reaction, however. the master rounded restlessly upon Gram, grasping his arm subtly and then passing him briskly and doing a few laps around the room, as though he was unsure of what to do.
he was behind Kokuei in an instant, although not close enough to touch, Gram brightened up at this, looking alert, but no other expression on his face.
"whooo are you. . . .??" a singsong voice entered Kokuei's ear, but with the distinction that it was not directed to her or GramDi'ang.
Kokuei somehow knew he wasn't speaking to her, as a wave of voices exploded within her mind.
Why should you know?!
Yeah!
--none of your business!!
Gustave the Mage!
I can't remember...
Shut up, you idiot!!
RAAAA!!
More voices could be heard, but all of them were drownded out by each other yelling at this new speakers voice. Kokuei shrugged at Gram, obviously having no idea what was going on.
the master laughed, the sound was eerily close to Gram's kind chuckle, his eye-colors swirled clockwise, "i have every right to know! i'm going to help you get out. i'm sure you'd like that. . .??" his voice seemed closest to normal that had ever been heard by Kokuei at that moment, a carefree tenor.
Gram looked happier than ever.
Kokuei shiverred at the new voice that she heard in her ear. But she focused on the question, which was more important. Before she could answer, however, the Nobel Woman's voice from before spoke first.
No! We can't leave this Mistress! All the spirits within her is what is keeping Kokuei together! She is unstable already, but no spirit is to be removed for the chance of Kokuei dying!
Kokuei gasped at this, and suddenly felt unsafe about she being "unstable".
another laugh, but this one was cold. time seemed to stop, Gram didn't move, because nothing was moving, not the master's lips, not even Kokuei's heartbeat. everything stopped, as thousands of voices ranging from high-pitched to low and somber spoke as one, chidding mass, "and whooo said anything about leaving the hoooste. . .??" nobody's lips had moved, however.
though Kokuei couldn't see it, as he was behind her, the master's eyecolors had stopped swirling, and began scrambling, becoming odd mixes of colors, nothing but this moved. nothing but thoughts and the 'master's eyecolors.
(Last post for tonight!)
Kokuei felt herself suddenly freeze, along with everything else in the room, as if time stopped; though she was well aware of what was going on. Inside, however, Kokuei could feel herself trembling, afraid of what the 'master' might do to her. The voice spoke again, slightly baffled.
Wh-what are you saying?! What in the hell are you talking about?!! What in God's name have you done to this poor child! Everything has stopped moving!!
A small voice was heard in the background saying, "I don't like the feel of this, guys..." as everything seemed to wait to see what would happen...
"nothing has stopped." the voices said, "life goes on, we're just too fast for it. now. . ." the eyecolor gathered at the center as though being sucked into a black hole, and suddenly there was no color at all, nothing but white, "nothing has been done to the child. are you to tell me that you do not wish to come out? to share conciousness??"
The voices seemed to be really confused about what he was talking about.
W-what!? That makes no sense! We can't just leave Kokuei's mind, we're TRAPPED in here! No way to get out!
a shrill voice, "you silly beasts!"
a deep-chested chuckle, and a deep voice to match it, "there's always a way out!"
unison again, "even if it requires a bit of force! open the mind, take the body every now and then, or," a raspy scream, "GET OUT!"
time began to move again, the master fell backwards without a word, his eyes wide open and colorless, Gram immidiately made to help him, but suddenly the room was filled with laughter, comming from every direction, all different types, the voices spoke, "you needn't harm the girl, if you do not wish it, but take control, use that way to exsist, you are harming her with what you are doing. exsist in harmony, or do not exsist at all!!"
the laughter became louder, and was laced with a sort of glee that hadn't been there before, "unless of course, you'd like to join us!"
Gram stood frozen, not from an outside force, but by fear.
The voices from Kokuei were suddenly silent. Her back was still turned to the 'master' and Gram, but she showed no signs of fear. It seemed the voices knew what he was talking about.
Kokuei slowly turned around, her white eye now with a black pupil and her black eye with a white pupil. Kokuei's mouth opened to speak, but out came a variety of voices, with her real voice in the background.
"...Is this what thee meant?" the voices all said together, Kokuei's mouth moving slowly along with them.
he was on his feet again, as though he never fell, the colors dancing in his eyes, no longer just gold and silver, but a multitude of different colors in different shades, the laughter blared, and then faded away, seemingly to retreat into his slack mouth, "that certantly is a way, but. . ."
eyes closed, he was before Kokuei quicker than one could blink an eye, his hand on her face, the ooze burning lightly, but not doing much else than moistening her face. his vioce was quiet when he spoke, but it somehow filled the room, comforting and fatherly, "i was suggesting something easier."
a high-pitched giggle, like that of a girl, "like taking tuuuurns???"
Kokuei's voice twisted in confusion, but she closed her eyes again. For a few moments, she stood in front of the 'master', not moving nor making a sound, until she lifted her head back up and opened her now, bright-blue eyes.
Like this?" the nobel voice came out, making Kokuei cross her arms in front of her chest.
a strong laughter, "perhaps."
he opened his eyes, they were back to the gold and silver, swirling counter-clockwise, "what is your name?" the singsong-voice had returned, gram seemed to relax at the sound of it.
The Nobel voice was unfazed. "I am Lady Ailisa; Ruler of the Cahira Empire," the one known as 'Ailisa' replied, glancing over to Gram, and then back to the 'master'. "Do you wish to speak with me, Sir?"
"a ruler, aye?" a giggle, but not a girlish one as before, "and what is the ruler of an empire doing trapped inside of a child? hmmmmm??"
'Ailisa' nodded. "When the witches, wizards, and shamans were creating Kokuei, they managed to capture my dead spirit and used it to help combine the rest of the spirits. So, here I am now," she answered, looking around the room. Without turning back to the 'master', she asked, "Would you like to speak with anyone else?"
"created her. . ." the master repeated as if in thought, he glared at Gram, who immidiately gasped, "Ah! i'm sorry ------!! it . . .it must of slipped my mind--!" before he could continue, the master turned his attentions back to Ailisa, "tell me what you mean by this." the voice was the same, but lacked it's usual crazed happyness.
When there was seriousness in the master's voice, 'Ailisa' turned her head, her attention focused on him. "Kokuei was created by a couple of mad witches and shamans by taking the souls of others that have passed and solidfied them into a living being. Unfortunately, most of the souls they were able to get were brutally murdered victims, insane serial killers, and a few twisted and demented poltergeists, while the rest was a few innocent and pure souls, like myself. They ended up with Kokuei," she stopped to sigh, a streek of sadness in 'her' eyes, "For years they tortured Kokuei, and for what reason Kokuei did not know. But unknown to Kokuei, when they were creating her, one of the shamans foolishly captured a demented soul, one of that which killed relentlessly when it was still alive, and used it. So what the Shamans and Witches were doing when they tortured Kokuei, they were trying to bring out the evil spirit, for it only surfaces and controls Kokuei when she is in extreme danger or she abruptly looses conciousness." 'Ailisa' was then silent, now becoming fascinated with Kokuei's feet, as she waited to see how the master would react.
he had laughed openly when this 'Ailisa' claimed to be a pure soul.
he stood silent for a bit, seemingly to contemplate how to act. then he said, "and are you to say that this evil spirit is less evil than the 'insane serial killers and twisted/demented pultergeists'? . . . it seems unlikely to me that they would forgo all of these other seemingly 'evil' souls to get at one demented spirit?"
the colors in his eyes shifted, and turned clockwise, "and what of this 'demented spirit', where is it now?"
'Ailisia' ignored the master's laugh and answered his question. "The evil spirit is still inside Kokuei, but it has been a long while since it's done anything, so right now it is sleeping. It sleeps while it is not rampaging and killing..." she stated.
a dangerous glint flitted across his eyes, "might i suggest somebody going to wake him? i wish to speak to this thing that is worse than crazed killers." a snide smirk cracked his face, his features of mild amusement.
Horror twisted all over 'Ailisa's' face as she took a step back. "No! We can't wake him! Whenever he is awake, he not only kills those around him, but he also puts Kokuei in a state of pain, leaving her weak and helpless for a long period of time once he's asleep again, and takes a chunk out of Kokuei's life and how long she will live!!" she yelled.
Kokuei's blue eyes suddenly flashed out, leaving her black and white eyes again, signaling that Kokuei was in control again.
looking dully at Kokuei, he drawled, "and who's he goint to kill? me? sweet Di'ang?" he stopped when Kokuei was back out, standing still and quiet, just staring into nothingness, as though waiting for something to happen.
Seeing the master's blank stare, Kokuei took the liberty to try and bring out Ailisa again; in hopes of finding out more information. "Um...Lady Ailisa? Could...you come back out? Y-You didn't answer ------'s question! Lady Ailisa...?" Kokuei felt awkward standing in a room with two other people, trying to get a spirit from her mind out to talk, but still continued with calling her.
he rolled his eyes, "maybe this has been enough for today."
without another word he walked past Kokuei, stopping at GramDi'ang. he gave the man a look that would have made children cry, "if anything important happens, report to me directly and immidiately."
then, keeping the stoney expression, he sang quietly, "and don't forget~~"
he left before he had the chance to see Gram's obediant bow, a happy smile on his face.
Gram looked at Kokuei, "a-are you alright, milady? is there anything i may get you??" the happiness had faded a bit and had been replaced with concern.
Kokuei sighed, rubbing her temple. "I agree with ------. I've have enough for one day." She then looked up at Gram's concerned face after the master had left and said, looking at the small cot, "Well, I am very tired. Am I to sleep here?"
"i'm afraid so, milady. however, if it is not a suitable bed for your tastes, i can fetch more cussions. . . !" he said, smiling.
something passed over his face that looked like uncertanty, and then with an expression that screamed uncomfortable, he added, "i may also provide you with. . . company. . . if it is your wish." for the first time, it looked like he would really rather not provide this for his charge.
Kokuei gave a small laugh. "No, you don't need to stay. But a few more cusions would be nice," she replied, sitting on the small cot.
"t-that's not what i ment, milady! i'll. . . i'll gladly stay with you. . .!! i just don't really want to. . . uh. . ." he stoped there, and then bowed quickly, "uh. . . i'll get those cusions."
he left the room and returned in a few minutes, piled with cussions of all different shapes, sizes and colors. there were so many that it would have been surprizing that he could see through them. he carried them over to the cot, stumbling a bit as he went, and dropped the pile atop of it, it now seemed so fluffy with pillows that it would be difficult to sit atop it without getting encased in cussions, or pushing some off.
"is that good?" he asked cheerily, once all of them were arranged in a way that looked quite comfy.
Kokuei gave a small squeel looking down at what now seemed like a bed. "Thank you so much!!" she yelled, practically pouncing on Gram to give him a hug. But before he could do anything else, Kokuei let go and turned to her bed and jumped onto the mound of pillows, giggling as she landed.
Gram laughed heartily at the sight, happy to see Kokuei smile. he bowed, still chuckling as he did so, "is there anything else, milady? some blankets ro something??" he stood, mirth in his features, "i'm sorry, i don't really know what you require. .."
Kokuei gave a dissmisal wave. "No, I'm fine like I am," she said, holding back a yawn. The past events of the day slowly started to come back on her, her entire being becoming limp and her mind eshausted. "I just wanna...sleep..." Kokuei mumbled before she finally passed out, curled up among the many pillows.
GramDi'ang smiled affectionately, giving a quick bow before turning to leave. on his way out, he said in a whisper, "fetch me when she wakes," to seemingly no-one. but as he left, the lighting of the room dimmed further until it resembled the lighting of the forest at night, just a little fake moonlight shifting about every now and then as though being filtered through leaves.
Morning. About 10:00 AM...
As conciousness slowly took Kokuei, she could make-out the small chirps of birds. As she turned over, she was blinded by the bright light shining through her eyelids and grumbled, grabbing a random pillow and covering her head in hopes of blocking out the light and going back to sleep.
within a few minutes, Gram showed up, a steaming pile of pancakes on the plate in his hand, a large empty glass in his other. ignoring the fact that Kokuei was obviously trying to sleep longer, he put the plate on a small table that seemed to materialize out of nowhere next to where Kokuei was sleeping.
he put the glass next to this, laughing, "sorry, i didn't know what kind of bevarage you may want, milady." a pause, ". . . milady?" it seemed he only now realized her state. laughing, he nudged her gently in the shoulder.
Kokuei said a few incoherent mumbles from underneath her pillow, resisting the urge to get up and eat from her tiredness.
GramDi'ang shrugged, it wasn't as though they were on a schedule. he got up and left, telling the room to get him when she awoke completely. he actually seemed quite happy to be returning to wherever he went for the time, ------ appearently didn't start his duties until later in the day.
Kokuei heard Gram leave the room, and after a few moments, decided to get up. She wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep again. She scooted over to the plate of pancakes and managed to eat them slowly instead on shoving them down her throat. Finishing her water, she looked around the empty room. For some reason, it looked so different in the morning...
Gram fell into the room, literally, as though he had been pushed through the doorway, which quickly dissappeared after he got through it. he stood, straightening himself, now wearing tan robes, still covering everything except his head.
he seemed somewhat dishelved, but made his way over to Kokuei, smiling and sitting on a stool that materialized on the other side of the table, "i hope you enjoyed messing with me, milady." he knew she didn't do it on perpous, but he couldn't help poking fun.
he yawned, scratched at the back of his head and sat waiting for her to finish her meal, closing his eyes and smiling, deep in thought, perhaps good memories.
Kokuei shuddered slightly and perked up at Gram, her eyes suddenly turning a light pink, and asked, "Grammmm~~! What am I to all day!! You have your duties to do, as well as your master, so I will be stuck here in this room all by myself with nothing to dooooooo!!" She laughed like a small child, resting her chin in her palms, waiting for Gram to answer.
GramDi'ang's jaw dropped, turning all red, he studdered, "ah. . n-no. i. . .my. . my duties are to tend to yer needs. . . r-remember??" he was over-reacting, this new form of Kokuei probably didn't mean anything, he must be more sensitive to the subject than he realized.
he took a big breath, runing his hand over his face, calming himself. he looked up, an odd ironic mirth in his eyes, "but no, really, love, ------'s only requirements of me at the moment are to. . .to watch over you."
he really hoped that he had returned to his normal skin-color.
Kokuei immediately snapped out of her strange behavior, mumbling, "Damn spirits..." She didn't noticed Gram's blush, and continued to ask what the other spirit was asking. "But, there isn't anything to do! We can't simply just talk all day; maybe you could...give me a turor of this place?"
GramDi'ang laughed sheepishly, "well, that would take a very long, milady. this place is a lot larger than it looks." he laughed again, "if you would like, i can get some paper and charcoal, and i can try to draw you a map of what i know. .. ?? i'm terribly sorry there's not much to do. . ."
Kokuei looked away, a small red light in her eyes, and grumbled, "I still think ------ should have given me tasks to do or something..." All of a sudden, Kokuei snapped with realization. Because her creator's spirits failed, they would then be after her themselves. Fear started to come back into Kokuei as she fearfully turned to Gram. "Th-They'll be...coming!!" she blurted, her own fear seeming to block her ability to speak.
Gram didn't appear to be even slightly taken aback, in fact, he smiled as if talking to a child who thought there was a monster under the bed, "who'll be coming, dear?"
Kokuei resisted the urge to smack Gram across the head. "The Wizards! The Witches! The Shamans! All of the people who created me will be coming here to look for me!!" she yelled.
Gram continued to smile, "oh, i don't think you have to worry about anyone getting inside ------'s 'palace', it's really quite secure. not to mention, how would they know where you are, dear?"
Kokuei sighed. "They always know where I am because I give off a specific aura in which only my creators can sense," she answered. Kokuei bowed her head and mumbled, "I can't stay here forever, Gram. I'll have to leave soon, and then I'll be on my own again. If I get up enough courage, I might go into the city which is said to be outside of this forest, but..."
Gram nodded, "if you'd like, we can send somebody with you. you do not have to be alone, Kokuei." for the first time he seemed somewhat serious, but then he smiled again, "and you'll always have here to come back to. it is safer than you could immagine, i am not the only ex-king living here, not to mention all of the people ------ has saved over the years. quite a formitable force to try and pick a fight with, if you catch my drift. . ."
he laughed, "that is, assuming that ------ will even let you go peacefully."
Kokuei lifted her head up with a questioning look on her face. "I wish I knew what ------'s intentions for me were, instead on sitting in the dark," she said angrily. "Why does he want me to stay? I can't help him in anyway, and he probably thinks of me as a burden; it just-- arg!" Kokuei planted her face in her hands in frustration, a red gleam coming back in her eyes once more.
"yeah. . . he's like that. but i'm sure he doesn't think of you as a burden, after all, none of us really serve much of a purpose. i think he's got some big plan or something. . ." he trailed off, ". . .are you O.K., love?"
Kokuei didn't like the sound of "big plan" and herself in the same sentence. But her curiousity took the best of her and she asked, "Would you have any idea of what his plans for me might be?"
he laughed, "for you? i don't even know his plans for me! i just think he's up to something, i mean, taking in all of these troubled people who usually have some sort of power. . .?? and he assasinated our queen!! that's not something one does on a whim. . .!!"
+
An evil grin started to spread onto Kokuei's face as her eyes slowly started to become green and more devilish. "Hey buddy," said a deep female voice, a tiny bit of Kokuei's in the background, "wanna check this place out?"
GramDi'ang's eyes darted to Kokuei, a look of mild terror crossing his face upon hearing this voice, "uh. . .w-what. . .??"
"You know!" she laughed, standing up and eagerly looking around the room, "to look around this place! I don't know what any of this place looks like, and plus, it'll give us something to do! We might even find a secret area or somethin'." Kokuei then looked at the area of the room where she thought she had seen a door. She then looked at Gram and asked, "Where's the door?"
"guh. . .um. . .y-yes. a-about that. . . i. . .i should get permission from ------ before allowing you to leave this room. . !!" he walked to the wall quickly, looking suspiciously like a scurry, "sorry. . . but. . . i'll get on that! b-be right back?!" he ran out of the room.
GramDi'ang ran to his master's room. cautiously he entered.
"-. . .------ . . .?? miss Kokuei requests to explore the palace a little. . ."
his master was there, in front of him, his hand running gently down Gram's face. his eye-colors weren't moving, softly, he sang, "but whaaaat has you so frightened, sweet Di'ang. . .??"
he swallowed, feeling heat rise to his face, looking away from his master, "she. . uh. . . she isn't herself, sire."
his master dropped his hand, nodding, eyes closed. the ooze on Gram's face from where his master had touched went from warming to cold, tingling slightly as it dripped off and hit the ground with a sizzle.
"i see. come, i will accompany you both."
Gram bowed hastily, quickly leaving with his master following placidly behind.
they reached the room where Kokuei was being held, Gram peeked inside.
Kokuei stared dumbstruck as Gram hurried out, but later shrugged. "Oh well," she said, the spirit still having control over her, "as long as I get to do something, I'm happy!!"
Kokuei immediately saw Gram and grinned. "Gram buddy! I was wondering when you were coming back," she said, the spirit still having full control of her. "So, can we go?"
Gram made no move to go inside the room, "y-yes, but--" he was cut off, his master pushing him into the room with what would have otherwise been a playfull shove.
the master came in after his stumbling servant smiling, "but i'll have to go with you. poor, sweet Di'ang here is terrified of you, i'm afraid." he said the last bit with a pouting look on his face, though it looked completely fake.
'Kokuei' gave the master an arrogant smirk. "Alright," she said, putting her hands on her hips, "but before we go anyway, I thinks et's bet I told you me name. Et's Marva." She then glanced at the doorway, then to the terrified Gram, and then back to the master.
Gram's master's smile widened, becoming mildly crazed, "ok Marva, now are you going to be a good little girl, and behave, or shall we get you a leash?" this last word was harsh, and Gram cringed as a leash appeared in his master's hands, who brandished it like a whip.
A loud voice blasted through Kokuei's mind, it being herself.
How can this be!!!, she yelled, trapped in the darkness of her own thoughts, Why can't I regain control?! Please, someone answer!!
But her cries fell on deaf ears as the control of Marva was becoming stronger. Kokuei's once fair, pale skin begun to turn a forest green as the ends of her hair started to perk up instead on laying flat. Marva laughed. "Oh! So you want to use leashes now?" she said, the word rolling of of her tongue like wine. She then put on an innocent face (obviously fake), "But I just want to take a little peek around your home! That's all I ask.." Kokuei's eyes had now turned completely green with a small, yellow pupil in the center that stared up at the master, waiting for an answer.
Gram looked as though he was about to say something, but he was stopped short again, this time by the sound of his master cracking the leash that had an odd resemblance to a whip when being used that way. he was taken aback by the look of coldness in his master's eye, the silver becoming the dominant color.
"i hope that you do not think me stupid enough to allow that?" his voice was low and dangerous, yet there was a light air to it, Gram hadn't moved. he recognized this tone, appearently.
The fake innocent expression didn't leave 'Marva's' face. "What are you talking about? All I want is a little look around..." she said, her last few words turning into a whisper. Kokuei could hear the conversation, and continued to scream, but this time at the master.
------!! Please, help me! I can't gain control anymore! Get me out of hear!!!
The ends of Kokuei's ears began to turn black and more pointed, almost resembling ears of a cat. Marva then turned 'her' head so she was facing Gram, her a small smirk on her face. "Isn't that right... Gram?" she asked, her voice becoming deeper, signaling she had now complete control.
Gram trembled, trying desparately to ignore his impulse, but finding something about this voice, and this presence, it tore into him in a way that escalated his already hard-to-face fear . he couldn't help it, he was clinging to his master's back like a small child, the ooze burned at first, and he flinched, but didn't let go, it quickly turned to soothing.
the master stood staring at 'Marva' the whole time, barely swaying when GramDi'ang's weight hit him, "you would be wise to let the child free."
his voice lost the lightness, "you'll find that we will not tollorate you're actions."
his eyecolors moved slightly, the gold swirling over the silver just a fraction, hardly noticable. his voice was quiet and cold enough to freeze hell itself, "nobody deserves to be locked away like that." Gram clung to him tighter, to the untrained eye, it would seem out of fear, but Gram could feel his master's weight shift, the comfort was no longer one-sided, however faint the difference was.
'Marva' grin grew wider, revealing four long, vicious looking fangs. She then started to slowly walk backwards, talking as she did. "You think of me as a fool, don't you? Was it not unfair when they locked me away in this girl? All of the others thought of it as a curse, but I thought of it as a blessing," the ground at 'Marva's' feet began to undertake a green/brown color, it quickly spreading throughout the room, small vines and branches popping up as the color reached certain areas.
"Last night, as the gang figured out we could 'share' Kokuei's body, I began sketching out my plan. Don't you see? The only reason I can use all of these powers is because Kokuei's body allows me to! Normally I wouldn't be able to do this, but now I can do whatever I want!!" 'Marva' was close to the end of the room where she stopped, half of the room now covered in vines, branches, and small plants. "Hey, if we work together, we could beat-down anyone in our path! We could even conquer Mitternacht Route-- or even better -- even the great Tonjoto!!"
Small vines started to wrap around 'Marva's' ankles and fingers, she standing confidently, as if she knew the master was going to tell her "yes".
the master nodded, closing his eyes, "yes. we could."
the whiplike leash dissappeared from his hands, Gram's eye's followed the movements as they wen't to his master's temples, rubbing as though he was exhausted.
And then the hands came down upong Gram's shoulders, the ooze didn't feel like anything, just cool ooze, and before he could think, GramDi'ang was pushed roughly from the room, the world going black.
as his Di'ang's body hit the floor outside of the room, the door closed and dissappeared, leaving him trapped inside the room with Marva.
his eyes returned to Marva, colorless, "and what would you do, once the world is under our control?"
'Finally' Marva thought, 'We're getting somewhere.' "Are you kidding!! We could do all KINDS of stuff!! I'll get my revenge on those dirty bastards that killed me, then I could become the richest being in all the world; I could even control other people's death's once I take over Tonjoto!! And all with the ultimate weapon..." 'Marva' patted 'her' stomach, signaling she was talking about Kokuei.
"again, that is what you could do. . . " he closed his eyes, speaking in an even line, monotonous, "but what would you do, with all of this power?"
outside, Gram stirred where he had fallen, rubbing his head for a moment, he suddenly realized what had been happening, he stood quickly, trying to get back into the room. the door wouldn't appear for him, banging on the door, he tried to figure out what to do, this definately wasn't good. was his master alright? he felt sick, like he had swallowed a boulder whole, along with all of the fire ants living beneath it. he paniced, deciding to fetch others, if this 'Marva' was to get past his master, he'd be damned before he'd allow her to get past him.
'Marva' thought for a moment. "I'd do exactly what I said! And instead of saying I 'could' do it, I will do it! No one will stop me!!!" An evil cackle escaped 'Marva's' lips as 'her' eyes had a crazed look to them. She then looked back up at the master and said, "Join me!! I'll make sure that we both will get what we always wanted, most likely today! Join me!"
Kokuei continued to shout from inside of her own mind, growing louder and louder by each passing minute.
------, say NO!! Please help me! I want my body back, and I don't want any of you getting hurt! Please, get me out...!
"and what exsactly is it, that you think i want, child?" his voice was quiet, gentle. his eyes stared at Marva with a gentle push.
Gram had in the meantime been able to round up about twenty of the small creatures that followed his master, but there were no others willing to believe him, or that he could find. he was trembling with fear, hoping desparately that he wouldn't need any others, closing his eyes and trying with all his mind to break through the wall separating him from his master, willing to get just a glimps of his master, alive.
but there was no such hope, he knew these walls thrummed with magic, his deteriorating skills were no match for his master's palace. all he could do was hope, then. hope that the next being to come out of that room would not be the crazed Marva.
"How could I possible know what you desire?" 'Marva' said quickly, crossing 'her' arms. But Marva was finished with telling the master all the things she wished for and such. She wanted an answer. "This chat has been great, but I'd like to wrap it up soon. Do you want to join me or not? I've got worlds to conqure and I'd like to get started soon."
he closed his eyes, not opening them to see Marva's reaction as he spoke, "what i want is justice. justice does not mean to conquire and force others into sufferage, that would be revenge. i believe what you and i want are completely different, as your talk of 'conquiring' seems hardly just at all. . . .does it?"
he opened his eyes, but only just so, they were narrow slits of white light, "i will work with you, if i have been mistaken, and you would work justly. however, if not, than i'm afraid i will have to stop you."
Gram gave a jolt, feeling something strange pass through the wall. what would have enough power to get through his master's palace?! with an effor, he lowered himself so that the creatures could hear him, "g-go. go find anyone, anyone at all inside this forest, anyone even remotely able to help. . .please, please go. . .!!" he was terrified, not completely sure if these things would listen to him, he could only hope.
GramDi'ang stood alone and trembling outside the room containing his master and the girl he had been assigned to watch.
Outside in the forest, a ghostly figure, wearing a long, dark cloak and a long walking stick in hand, stepped down the dark, dence corridors of the small pathways. A strange vibe was in the air, and it was that that lead this wanderer to its whereabouts. The figure stopped in front of a large wall of vines, covering up the power, which was now even stronger than it already was.
The figure slowly reached up to touch the tip of the walking stick heald in their hands and leaned on its base as they gazed up at the greenery wall blocking the way inside. "So..." the figure spoke, the softness of their voice calm yet haunting, "This is wear The Shadow lies...?"
Meanwhile, back with Marva and the master, Marva was fed up with the man standing across the room from her. "Well then, I guess your out of luck," she said bringing her hand up slowly, "Now your just a useless speck in my way. Say goodbye!" She then slammed her hand against the wall beside her, causing a enormous, thick wadd of branches, vines, and roots to spring out of the wall, speeding straight for ------...
Gram's master smiled. he sat down just as the object was coming for him, missing it just barely. he sat cross-legged, with his eyes closed on the floor, smiling like an idiot.
that's when it happened, the room blared white, such blinding whiteness that it was thick, even if any eye could get used to the light, one would not be able to see their hand befor their face. like ultimate darkness, inversed.
voices filled the room, bombarding Marva's ears, all saying the same thing, but nowhere near in unison, "you think you can attack while trapped in another's territory. . .??" and as each of these voices finished at a different time, they began to laugh, the laugh growing louder and louder and so many uncoordinated, it blurred into chaos, so loud it hurt.
finally, one small voice sang through the chaos, though the chaos still screamed, "alone in the darkness, alone in the night, alone in the whiteness, is where the true. . . friiiiiiight is~~~ small children playing. . . of every age. . .come and join the laaaauuuughter. . .playing of the soul." the voice circled, cutting through the chaos like a bullet, seeming to go straight into Marva's mind, playing over and over and over the tune in minor. calling out to every spirit inside of Kokuei's body, opening a path for them to come out, begging them to overthrow this one meager being. the music continued, the laughing chaos continued.
outside of the room, all was silent, GramDi'ang stood staring at the wall as though if he did this long enough, it would open for him.
the creatures, in the meantime, scoured the grounds, it seemed everyone was away on the master's orders, or otherwise didn't wish to come, they moved to the forest, almost instantly finding the figure. they scrambled on to each other, until they formed a figure of equal hight, all of their small beady eyes locked upon it. they squeeked, a long, peircing sound that didn't seem to end, but through the noise, Gram's figure seemed to materialize, paniced, shaken, pale, "g-go. go find anyone, anyone at all inside this forest, anyone even remotely able to help. . .please, please go. . .!!" the figure faded, and dissappeared, the noise stopped, and the creatures stilled, eyes fixed on the figure, waiting for a reaction.
The figure stood for a moment, not even remotely moving. Silence followed, as the figure seemed to be thinking of how to answer. A small breeze came and fluttered the figure's cloak, and they finally reached up and lightly touched the hood of their cloak to make it stop moving. They then turned their head slightly to the small creatures and whispered, "I will help. Bring me to your master..." a slight Irish accent now in their voice.
Back with Gram's Master, Marva was insanely blinded when the light came at her in full force. Once the voices started to come, she covered 'her' ears, trying to block them out, but the voices still came in loud and clear as though her hands weren't even there. "Stop it!! Go away!!" she screamed, either out of fear or to not make them deafen her. Once the one voice came into 'her' mind, Kokuei, as well as the rest of the spirits, were just as scared as Marva now, not daring to do as the voice asked. "You even think about coming out, I'll tear you to pieces once I'm back in there!!" Marva commanded, immediately sensing what was happening.
Through her blindness and the voices, Marva cautiously reached down and slammed both of her hands onto the floor, sending branches, vines, roots flying out into the master's direction, blasting a huge opening in the wall.
the creatures fells from each other, once again obviously what they were. they moved in a mass and lead the figure to Gram.
Gram jumped at the noise, and watched in horror as a hole was blown through his master's carefully constructed wall. before he could react, and jumpt to his master's aid, however, the wall closed up, a weave of branches and vines, growing quickly together and then glowing, and becoming a solid wall once again. Gram cursed his slow reaction time and slid down the wall across the room, sitting proped agains this wall with his head in his hands, something was happening in that room, and he was unable to help his master.
Gram's master laughed light-heartedly, indeed, the room looked perfectly normal to him, and it seemed silent, save for his own laughter and Marva's words. easily, he moved out of the projectile.
he sang out, adding to the singing voice, "don't be afraid of her, child, if you come out, she will not go back inside. . ."
with that, he opened his mouth widely, ooze parted in thin ribbons, glistening as they dripped from his lips, his teeth bared, tongue pressed to the bottom of his mouth, his throat seemed more like a black hole than a throat, ready to suck anything in. instead, he took a large breath, and then closed his mouth, blowing a large buble with the ooze that quickly covered his lips, the bubble glowed white, with a matalic sheen, and floated over towards Marva.
(note: this bubble was not a weapon, not an attack, merely an unbreakable prison for a soul. if all of them opposed Marva at once, she would be pushed through the hole the chaos was making, and be imprisoned in this bubble.)
Kokuei stammered for a moment, as if not sure what to say. She then blurted out, "------, she can't leave me, remember!! I need all of these spirits to help me stay together! If one is taken out, I'll perish! There has to be another way!"
Marva, still holding onto her ears and closing her eyes, could clearly hear what ------ said. She then turned to his general direction angrily. "Why do you care so much for this child?! She has no purpose! She can't help you in anyway; let her go!!" she shouted at him. Her anger seemed to make the ground shake as more branches and vines came out of the walls and floors, one large root lifting Marva into the air as she commanded the plants to attack again, hoping that she could puncture the wall again and escape.
Back with the Figure, they slowly followed the small creatures, weeving in and out of the small hallways and corridors. The figure kept their focus on the small creatures until they finally reached the area where Gram was. The figure could sense that there was another presense in the hallway without looking up from their hood. The vibes coming from them were ragged and torn with fear and concern. But enormous vibes were coming from the wall in front of him, catching the figure's interest.
The figure took a few steps forward and asked politely, "May I be of assistance?"
silence singled Kokuei out, suddenly all the chaos was distant, if only to her. the singsong vioce of Gram's master sang softly to her in a whispy tenor, "who said that she is to be removed from you, child?"
Gram's master kept his eyes closed tightly, willing the walls of the room to strengthen, willing the tree that was his palace to resist this being. with a rumble that could be felt throughout the fortress, the branches and vines that Marva had summoned retreated into their places. the master laughed, again, it was oddly close to Gram's warm chuckle.
"didn't i tell you before not to attempt attacking me in my own home?"
he opened one eye, winking with gold, "you assume too much, i'm afraid. the child means nothing to me. however, it is my purpose to bring justice, as i've said before. . . this child has been wronged, and deserves healing." another Gram-chuckle, the master's features twisting into the kind-hearted talking-to-a-small-child expression his servant often wore, "and you, i'm sorry, are like a virus to her mind. a virus can't be killed, so to say, but i find it my responsability to bring you to justice."
Gram looked up, his eyes screaming despiration. he studied the unfamiliar figure, before he could stop himself, it was out, his voice low and raspy, as though he had been crying, "who are you?"
he shook his head, smiling ruefully at himself. hoisting himself up with a push of the floor, he bowed low to this new figure, "forgive me. that was rude." he raised up to standing, his face back to dispair, "my ------ is in that room with an entity by the name of 'Marva'. something is happening, but i'm afraid ------'s palace won't allow anyone to get in. if. . ." he attempted to look at the figure's face, "if you could help me restrain this. . 'Marva', if she gets out? i-i'm sorry to ask this. . .i just. . i c-can't. . ." Gram had to stop, a tight knot working in his throat, he knew if he continued speaking he would break into sobs, so he stopped; deciding instead to save face and put on a stony mask of indifference, waiting for something to happen.
the creatures had returned to searching the palace for anyone who would help.
The figure smiled from underneath their hood and put their hand on Gram's shoulder. "Don't worry luv, I'll help you," they said, the eeriness of their voice having a hint of warmness, "In fact, I'll get you inside your master's room." The figure then raised their pale hands to the rims of their hood and slowly brought it down, revealing their face.
The woman stood a little below Gram's shoulders. Her incredibly pale skin stood out against her Ink-Black hair, tied back in a low ponytail and practically went down to the floor. Her eyes, however, were a glazed-over white, with a little grey pupil, but no shine. She stood in front of Gram, with a tiny smile on her lips, but staring at him like her vision went right through. A large bookbag, bulging with whatever was in it, had suddenly appeared at her side, but the woman didn't seem to notice. "And about your earlier question. My name is Sheila, Sheila Aingeal."
Marva's anger began to rise even higher as her attempts to get past ------ continued to fail. "Damnit! Why can't I get out of here?!" she yelled, continuing to send branches and vines at the master.
Gram tensed at the contact, and seemed to cower when the figure was revealed to be female, other than that, though he seemed alright. "thank you, Miss Aingeal. . . " he was a confused, and even a little offended that this woman was to assume she could break his master's magic, despite his wish to see and help his master, he knew that there was a reason behind his master closing off the room. he couldn't shake his obedience and instincts, telling him to wait.
"h-how do you. . ." he started to ask, then stopped himself, "no, i mean. . .miss, please don't open the wall. my ------ had his reasons for closing it, i-i'm sure he'd rather keep it closed. . . i. . i just need your help if 'Marva' escapes from inside . . . opening it. . opening it would let her out, wouldn't it?" his brow creased, he hadn't thought about what he was saying, but now that it was said, he couldn't help but feel that what he had said was true. his eyes looked pleadingly at the woman.
Gram's master continued dodging the objects being thrown at him, watching placidly as they were absorbed back into the walls after they'd missed. he sang out in an amused voice, though he didn't appear amused himself, "are you having fun, dearie? i do so very much hooooope soooooo~~~!!" there was an underlying line of annoyance.
through the chaos, the song still repeating, the singing voice made another plea, this one passing Marva's ears without being heard by anything but the spirits inside of her, "come. . .come one come all. . . come and save the child~~~" the voice added to the song already repeating, fitting in tune with the other, urging them to act.
Kokuei could sense the other spirits, yet she couldn't see them. She then turned around and yelled, "Will you not help?! Let's do as the voice says!!" A chorus of "I don't think so!", "Why would we help you only for you to gain control again?", and "I'm not sure about this..." was the reply, then all was silent again. Kokuei sighed, but continued to listen to what was going on.
Meanwhile, the woman chuckled at what Gram was saying. "I never said anything about breaking in, my good sir. But I must ask permission first," she said, slowly turning to the wall and walking towards it. She then closed her eerie eyes and focused only on the master inside.
Her mind was cleared of all thoughts as she tried to send messages to ------ without disturbing him at the same time.
'Sir, I must ask for permission to pass. The spirit is out of control, and should be quickly put to justice. I would like to end this soon, though, for I have come to speak with you. So, may I come in?'
Sheila stood in the silent hallway, waiting for her reply.
Gram's master gave a manic laugh. suddenly the song on repeat stopped mid-tune, but the chaos continued, as well as the white. he sat on the ground as though he was a small child sitting to listen to a story-teller.
the wall opened silently.
Gram stared in amazement as this happened, appearently under the impression that the wall itself had opened for this woman. he couldn't help but try to look over her shoulder at what was happening inside, but the hole was only just large enough for Sheila to get in, and consiquently, Gram couldn't see a thing, he did however, hear the last bit of his master's laughter, which however disturbing, calmed and warmed him, just knowing that his master was alive and well enough to laugh.
Sheila smiled, and slowly walked through the passage, hearing it close once she got in. 'Marva's' eyes had gotten used to most of the light, and she could clearly make out that another person had entered the room.
"Who entered the room? What is it now!!" she yelled, preparing to load up another blizzard of attacks. Sheila laughed out loud, the sound piercing and harsh. "Why, et's Little Lass!" she shouted back, exaggerating her Irish accent.
Marva suddenly stopped, her eyes widening for a split second before filling up with fury again. "YOU!! What the hell are you doing here!?" she asked, now sending a wave of plants at Sheila. But the plants suddenly stopped when they were almost touching her nose, and then crumbled up into a fine, black dust. Marva grew nervous.
"Sir, would you like me to end this now? Or do you want to stretch it out longer?" Sheila asked the master, not turning to him.
"ah. . !!" Gram wanted to get in after the woman, but the wall closed behind her too quickly to allow him to enter. he let out an exsasporated cry, sinking to the floor again, his forehead against the wall. he was right back to where he started.
Gram's master sat, he smiled pleasantly at Sheila, "do as you wish. if you need assistance, i shall be here." he winked playfully, as though this was just a game, "have at 'er."
Sheila didn't notice the wink Gram's master gave her, but immediatly jumped through the air as though she weighed nothing. She was nearing Marva, who started to freak-out and send even more clusters of plants at Sheila, but all failing from crumbling up into more black dust. She suddenly stopped, her face inches from 'Marva's'.
She brought her thumb up to her mouth and lashed it across one of her sharper teeth, opening her skin to reveal thich, oil-black blood. Without even another thought, Sheila lunged her thumb forward onto 'Marva's' forehead, her hand whipping about as though she were writing something. Her hand then stopped and pulled back, a strange symbol now on 'Marva's' forehead. "Eldo Anora!!" Sheila suddenly shouted, her open palm slamming into the symbol, releasing a bright green light that filled the room.
The light stayed for a few minutes, then finally dimmed down to an unconcious Kokuei, now back to normal, laying in the arms of Sheila.
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